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The 18th biennial State of Forest Report (ISFR-2023) reveals a slight increase of 156 sq km in forest cover and a significant rise of 1,289 sq km in tree cover since 2021. Notably, India’s green cover now exceeds the 25% threshold, encompassing 8,27,357 sq km (25.17%), with forests accounting for 21.76% and tree cover contributing 3.41%. Dense forests make up 4,10,175 sq km of this total.
Growth Trends in Forest and Tree Cover
Calculation Methodology
Since 2001, tree patches smaller than 1 hectare have been categorized as tree cover rather than forest cover.
Trends
- Tree Cover: Marked the sharpest growth, increasing from 2.91% (2021) to 3.41% (2023), a 0.5 percentage point rise in just two years.
- Forest Cover: Growth has slowed, with only a 0.05 percentage point increase since 2021.
Implications
- The slower forest cover growth reflects a declining trend since surpassing the 20% threshold in the early 2000s.
- Between 2003 and 2013, forest cover increased by 0.61 percentage points, but from 2013 to 2023, it only grew by 0.53 percentage points.
Classification of Forest Types in India
Categories Based on Canopy Density:
- Very Dense Forests (VDF): Canopy density ≥ 70% (introduced in 2003).
- Dense Forests: Canopy density ≥ 40%.
- Open Forests (OF): Canopy density between 10-40%.
- Non-Forest (NF): Canopy density < 10%, including shrubland.
Dynamic Forest Changes and Challenges
Transitions Across Density Categories
Forests can shift between density classes due to climate or human activities:
- Degradation: VDF to moderately dense forests (MDF) or MDF to open forests.
- Improvement: OF upgrading to MDF.
Limitations of Aggregated Data
- Aggregated metrics fail to depict dynamic transformations, such as:
- Degradation of natural forests.
- Replacement of biodiverse forests with plantations.
- Plantations, while fast-growing, lack the ecological value of natural forests.
Tracking Changes with the “Change Matrix”
Introduced in 2003, this tool tracks forest density transitions, revealing key trends over two decades.
Insights from ISFR-2023: Forest Losses and Gains
Change in Dense Forest Cover (2003-2023)
| Category | 2021-23 | 2003-13 | 2013-23 | 2003-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost | ||||
| VDF to NF | 295 | 288 | 1,277 | 1,565 |
| MDF to NF | 3,362 | 6,714 | 15,086 | 21,800 |
| VDF to Scrub | 24 | 5 | 65 | 70 |
| MDF to Scrub | 313 | 144 | 1,153 | 1,297 |
| Disappeared | 3,994 | 7,151 | 17,581 | 24,732 |
| VDF to OF | 228 | 134 | 1,128 | 1,262 |
| MDF to OF | 5,166 | 6,414 | 22,249 | 28,663 |
| Total Loss | 9,388 | 13,699 | 40,958 | 54,657 |
| Gained | ||||
| NF to VDF | 56 | 43 | 483 | 526 |
| NF to MDF | 839 | 3,631 | 7,514 | 11,185 |
| Scrub to VDF | 2 | 7 | 104 | 113 |
| Scrub to MDF | 102 | 105 | 1,043 | 1,248 |
| OF to VDF | 496 | 124 | 2,567 | 2,691 |
| Plantations | 1,494 | 3,903 | 11,943 | 16,270 |
| OF to MDF | 8,610 | 6,162 | 34,301 | 40,463 |
| Total Gain | 10,104 | 10,025 | 46,062 | 56,027 |
| Net Change | 716 | -3,674 | 5,044 | 1,370 |
Notes:
- VDF: Very Dense Forest (canopy cover ≥ 70%)
- MDF: Moderately Dense Forest (canopy cover 40-70%)
- OF: Open Forest (canopy cover 10-40%)
- Shrub: Areas with canopy cover <10%
- NF: Non-Forest (no canopy cover)
Dense Forest Losses (2003–2023)
- India has lost 24,651 sq km (6.3%) of dense forests since 2003, equivalent to nearly half of Punjab.
- 2021–2023: 3,913 sq km lost (larger than Goa).
- 2013–2023: 17,500 sq km lost.
- 2003–2013: 7,151 sq km lost.
Offsetting Losses with Plantations
- Over 20 years, 15,530 sq km of non-forest land transitioned to dense forests, largely due to plantations.
- 2021–2023: 1,420 sq km became dense forest.
Management and Upgrades
- Improved practices allowed open forests (OF) to transition into moderately dense forests (MDF), stabilizing dense forest cover.
- A net 1,370 sq km increase in dense forests was recorded between 2003–2023.
Data Revisions
- Reported dense forest growth of 21,601 sq km (2003–2023) includes 20,232 sq km of revisions from earlier reports, raising accuracy concerns.
Implications and Concerns
Plantation-Based Growth Criticisms
The shift from natural forests to plantations has sparked criticism:
- Uniformity Issues: Plantations consist of same-age, single-species trees, increasing vulnerability to pests, diseases, and fires.
- Ecological Constraints: Plantations hinder the regrowth of diverse ecosystems.
Superiority of Natural Forests
Natural forests outperform plantations in:
- Biodiversity: Supporting richer ecosystems.
- Carbon Stock: Storing significantly more carbon in both biomass and soil.
Climate Challenges of Plantations
- Overestimated Growth: In 2018, the UNFCCC flagged India’s unrealistic claim that plantations reach natural forest carbon stock levels within eight years.
- Short-Term Approach: Premature harvesting undermines long-term climate goals.
1. What does the ISFR-2023 report reveal about India’s green cover?
The ISFR-2023 report shows a marginal increase of 156 sq km in forest cover and a significant rise of 1,289 sq km in tree cover since 2021. For the first time, India’s total green cover has crossed the 25% threshold.
2. What is the total percentage of forest and tree cover in India as of 2023?
India’s total green cover stands at 25.17%, with forest cover accounting for 21.76% and tree cover contributing 3.41%.
3. What are the trends in forest and tree cover growth between 2021 and 2023?
While tree cover showed a sharp increase from 2.91% to 3.41% (0.5 percentage points), forest cover grew marginally by only 0.05 percentage points.
4. How are forests classified based on canopy density in India?
Forests in India are classified into the following categories:
Very Dense Forests (VDF): Canopy density ≥ 70%
Dense Forests: Canopy density ≥ 40%
Open Forests (OF): Canopy density between 10-40%
Non-Forest (NF): Areas with canopy density < 10%, including shrubs.
5. What is the significance of the “change matrix” in ISFR reports?
The “change matrix” highlights the transitions in forest density over time, showing how forests degrade, improve, or are replaced. It provides insights into the dynamic nature of forest ecosystems.
6. How has dense forest cover changed between 2003 and 2023?
India lost 24,651 sq km (6.3%) of dense forests in this period. However, plantation gains and improved management practices offset this loss, resulting in a net increase of 1,370 sq km of dense forest cover.
7. Why is the reliance on plantations to offset forest loss criticized?
Plantations often consist of trees of the same age and species, making them less biodiverse, more vulnerable to pests and fire, and less effective at carbon storage compared to natural forests.
8. What ecological advantages do natural forests have over plantations?
Natural forests support higher biodiversity, store more carbon in both soil and biomass, and offer greater ecological stability than plantations.
9. How has the forest cover growth trend changed over the years?
The growth rate of forest cover has slowed significantly. Between 2003 and 2013, forest cover grew by 0.61 percentage points, while from 2013 to 2023, the growth was only 0.53 percentage points.
10. What are the challenges in using plantations to meet carbon targets?
Plantations grow quickly but are often harvested prematurely, undermining long-term carbon sequestration goals. The assumption that plantations achieve the carbon stock levels of natural forests within eight years has also been flagged as unrealistic.
11. What is the net forest change recorded between 2021 and 2023?
Between 2021 and 2023, India recorded a net gain of 716 sq km in dense forest cover, with 10,104 sq km gained and 9,388 sq km lost.
12. What types of transitions contribute to forest density changes?
Transitions include:
Dense forests degrading to non-forest or shrub areas.
Open forests improving to moderately dense forests.
Non-forest areas transforming into plantations.
13. How have management practices helped improve forest density?
Improved management practices have allowed open forests to transition into moderately dense forests, stabilizing dense forest cover despite significant losses in natural dense forests.
14. Why is it important to differentiate between natural forests and plantations?
Natural forests offer diverse ecological benefits, such as supporting complex ecosystems and storing more carbon. Plantations, while growing faster, cannot replicate the biodiversity or long-term stability of natural forests.
15. What are the implications of the ongoing loss of natural dense forests?
The disappearance of natural dense forests raises concerns about biodiversity loss, reduced carbon sequestration, and long-term environmental stability. This highlights the urgent need for better conservation strategies.